Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

signal.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 649 posts

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#11

Post by Nextgrid »

thesis wrote: post #5
miduil wrote: post #2

> We have now reached the point where SMS support no longer makes sense That is hard to swallow, being able to quickly send a message through SMS to the same receiver in emergency situations* was quite handy. *like when you're at a protest and the tower is overloaded, or you're on a remote location and you see that the Signal message doesn't get through because of lack of 3G/LTE connectivity.

Just a guess, but this likely has something to do with 10DLC and/or Toll Free Verification and all of the complexities that are being pushed by the carriers for users to register their numbers and even pay to use if you want to use 10DLC.

I believe "SMS support" just means Signal can act as your SMS client using your existing modem & SIM card (something possible on Android), so from the carrier and phone network perspective there is no difference between this and using the stock SMS app.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#12

Post by dark_glass »

This change will have fewer people use Signal. One reason I was able to convince friends and family to start using it is because it is so seamless. I fear that with this change, Signal for most users will simply become unused, resulting in less e2e encrypted messaging overall.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#14

Post by joemazerino »

I do not like this decision. Using Signal as a main SMS provider makes it easier for me to collect all of my messages in one place. Now I have to, YET AGAIN, download an SMS app for use while keeping Signal active.

I'm glad privacy is becoming mainstream but dislike lowering the bar for adoption to where it profoundly affects users.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#15

Post by brewdad »

SMS support is literally how I got my family to switch to Signal in the first place. None of the non-techies want to switch apps or have to send the same message out multiple times in order to reach their friends and family. Having an app that provides privacy when able and still works for those not yet onboard was a godsend.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#17

Post by PenguinCoder »

agilob wrote: post #6

>Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon) Literally the only reason I recommend others and use Signal myself? Seriously, Signal doesn't have the userbase to drop SMS support. All my Signal contacts use WhatsApp or Telegram that I already have installed. I use signal mostly as a SMS app, secondly as E2E communication. It will be easier to uninstall Signal.

Seriously. I don't want to use another locked in messenger app, that everyone else must use or I won't get their messages. I use signal because it's secure, but also because it's low friction and seamless into SMS if the other user doesn't have signal. This is another step in the wrong direction for Signal.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#19

Post by JasonFruit »

eatwater123 wrote: post #10

This is an awful decision. I've converted some friends and family to Signal over the past years (it took a while) and it is now their default messaging app on their phones. This is going to confuse them and is going to make it difficult for me to keep convincing them that Signal is the route to use. ("Why do I need 3 apps (Android Messages, Signal, Whatsapp) to talk to people?")

I also deplore this.

I hope it's communicated well to users who aren't readers of Signal's blog. I have relatives who use Signal, and they rely on its fallback-to-SMS feature, possibly without fully understanding it. I'll make sure they understand and are aware of this change, but others may be in the same position.

Post reply on HN